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Cluster of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci cases at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following announcement today (September 17):

     A 29-year-old male patient admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery at QEH due to brain tumour was confirmed to be a Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) carrier on September 7. In accordance with the prevailing infection control guidelines, the hospital has screened patients who had contact with the index patient. Four male patients (aged 51 to 100) have been confirmed as VRE carriers, all without clinical symptoms. Among the five patients mentioned, two patients are hospitalised at QEH and another two patients were transferred to Kowloon Hospital for further treatment on August 31 and September 6 respectively. They are in stable condition, under medical surveillance and isolation. One patient succumbed today because of his underlying illness.

     The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow up.

     The Hospital Infection Control Team, the department concerned and experts of the Centre for Health Protection had a meeting today and the following enhanced infection control measures have already been adopted:

1. All VRE carriers are being treated in isolation rooms or cohort according to their clinical symptoms and treatment needs;
2. Visiting is limited to two people per patient during each visiting period; and
3. Stringent contact precautions have been applied, including dedicated use of clinical items in respect of VRE carriers, with enhanced hand and environmental hygiene.

     The Hospital Infection Control Team will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward.

Ends/Monday, September 17, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:20

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